Author: Nadine Payle

George is currently enjoying a vibrant and bustling summer season, with warm temperatures ranging from 26°C to 28°C attracting over 250,000 people to its beaches and public swimming pools from 1 December 2024 and up to 5 January 2025.

Highlights include a record-breaking 42,500 public pool and beachgoers on New Year’s Day, preceded by 26,500 on Christmas Day and 25,800 on Boxing Day. Popular destinations include the Blue Flag beaches at Wilderness Main, Herold’s Bay, and Victoria Bay. Additionally, Leentjiesklip—designated as a pilot Blue Flag beach for 2024—and Gwaing River Mouth, a recipient of the Green Coast Award for the second consecutive year, continue to see steady visitor numbers.

Comprehensive safety measures have been implemented to ensure a secure and enjoyable environment throughout the festive season. Municipal Law Enforcement officials, supported by SAPS and other partners, have maintained a strong presence in the CBD and other high-traffic public areas including the beaches. Fines totalling R72,000 have been issued for by-law infringements such as illegal trading, public nuisance, and disturbing the peace. Confiscated items include 355 litres of alcohol, sharp objects, knives, firearms, fireworks, and drugs.

To date, twelve arrests have been made for offenses including drunk and disorderly conduct, riotous behaviour, and assaulting a Law Enforcement officer. On New Year’s Day, four individuals were removed from beaches for unruly behaviour and public indecency. Confiscated alcohol is being stored and will be handed over to SAPS for destruction. Beach cleaning personnel have also played an essential role, working from 6 am on New Year’s Day to ensure beaches and public facilities were clean and welcoming for visitors.

George Fire and Rescue Services, along with NSRI, lifeguards, and other emergency teams, continue to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Their efforts have resulted in zero fatal drownings so far this season, while four non-fatal drownings have been successfully managed. Preventive measures have been robust, with 2,791 actions taken, 223 rescues conducted, 751 first-aid incidents and Emergency Medical Assistance provided in nine cases.

The George Fire Brigade has responded to 128 incidents, including 17 formal structure fires, 13 informal structure fires, 66 veld fires, and one motor vehicle fire, with no lives lost. Assistance was also provided to the Hessequa Local Municipality and Garden Route District Municipality for a stubborn veldfire in Jongensfontein. The municipal Human Settlements division assisted 9 families with emergency accommodation and addressed 24 fire cases.

Municipal Traffic Services, in collaboration with Provincial Traffic, remain focused on road safety. They have attended to 28 vehicle accidents, including six with injuries and one fatality, issued 1,983 traffic notices, and conducted 31 impoundments. These efforts have ensured minimal disruptions during the busy holiday period.

The success of the festive season is the result of combined efforts from various George Municipality departments, as well as external support and partnerships with SANPARKS, SAPS, NSRI, and Provincial Traffic. The Civil Engineering Services division responded to 162 Indigent related civils faults, 662 water-related faults, 111 street and stormwater faults, and 879 incidents of sewer clearing and emptying of septic tanks.

The Cleansing division worked tirelessly over the holiday period, with refuse collection officials working on all the public holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. A significant amount of refuse, just under 8000 tonnes was disposed of at PetroSA. Additionally, the Illegal Dumping Campaign launched on 13 December to address waste management challenges across the city’s wards has been highly successful, with over 9079 brown bags of litter collected to date.

Acting Municipal Manager Godfrey Louw commended the efforts of all municipal teams: “The cleanliness and safety of our city have been a top priority this festive season. I am pleased with the exceptional service delivery provided by our departments, despite the challenges of a busy holiday period. The hard work and dedication of our teams, as well as the support of residents, have contributed to ensuring George remains a safe, clean, and enjoyable destination for all.”

Lifeguards remain on duty at beaches and public swimming pools, ensuring safety as the summer season continues through to 31 January. George Municipality extends its gratitude to its hardworking teams and the public for their cooperation and looks forward to concluding the summer on a positive note.

Property of George Municipality, EPWP cleanup in Rosedale

Following the official launch of the Illegal Dumping Campaign on 13 December 2024, the George Municipality is rolling out its detailed 2024/2025 Business Plan to address the persistent challenge of illegal dumping and waste management with a holistic and sustainable approach. The municipality aims to confront the root causes of illegal dumping through a combination of education, enforcement, and continuous clean-up operations.

The campaign is founded on principles of sustainability and emphasizes the importance of consistent interventions over ad hoc clean-up efforts. By engaging the community through education and awareness initiatives, the municipality seeks to change waste disposal behaviours, particularly in informal areas where illegal dumping is most prevalent. Community collaboration remains at the heart of the campaign, with residents, municipal workers, and law enforcement playing a crucial role in maintaining clean and safe spaces.

To ensure effective implementation, the municipality is optimizing its resources, including skilled EPWP workers, skip trucks, and tipper trucks, while also integrating waste pickers into formal recycling programs.

Illegal dumping in George is not due to a lack of waste management services but rather behavioural challenges. To address these issues, the municipality has employed 310 EPWP workers and 14 coordinators, who have been strategically deployed across 12 blocks in the municipal area. Their responsibilities include daily waste removal, street sweeping, sidewalk cleaning, and breaking down bulky waste in open spaces. Workers will receive targeted training to enhance their skills and ensure the highest level of service delivery.

As part of the strategy, skips will be placed in critical wards in the wards across George starting from March 2025 to provide accessible waste disposal points for residents. Each household will receive a quarterly supply of green refuse bags to encourage proper disposal. In addition, the municipality has invested in yellow plant machinery, including TLBs and tipper trucks, to support clean-up operations and manage waste such as builders’ rubble and garden refuse more efficiently.

Incorporating waste pickers into the campaign is a significant step towards inclusivity and sustainability. The municipality has partnered with organizations such as Polyco and Ewasa to consider the establishment of buy-back centres and provide waste pickers with trolleys and protective gear. This initiative not only promotes recycling but also supports livelihoods within the community.

The municipality has allocated R16.34 million to the campaign, ensuring its financial sustainability. This funding covers street cleansing, refuse removal, the hiring of ward-based coordinators, and education and awareness campaigns. These efforts aim to create long-term change by addressing the behavioural and systemic factors contributing to illegal dumping.

MMC for Community Services, Marchell Kleynhans, emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “Illegal dumping is a community issue, not just an environmental one, and sustained enforcement alongside public participation is essential for the campaign’s success. We need every resident to contribute to a cleaner George.”

The Illegal Dumping Campaign reflects the George Municipality’s commitment to fostering a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. Residents are encouraged to report incidents of illegal dumping and actively participate in creating a litter-free environment for all.
Stock photograph: Property of George Municipality, EPWP cleanup in Rosedale

A groundbreaking initiative is set to transform the George trail network and solidify the region’s reputation as Africa’s premier golfing destination. George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, in collaboration with the George Tourism Advisory Committee, has embarked on an ambitious partnership to enhance, market, and preserve these iconic attractions.

The George Tourism Advisory Committee, composed of private-sector tourism stakeholders, appointed in a voluntary role by the tourism office, plays a vital role in this collaboration. Acting as a barometer for industry trends and concerns, the committee provides feedback on initiatives and helps disseminate joint marketing messages throughout the broader tourism community.

This initiative will ensure the broader tourism message is promoted, and that trails remain pristine, safe, and ecologically sustainable while elevating George as a global hub for adventure tourism and world-class golfing.

In March 2024, George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism was officially tasked by the Section 80 Committee for Planning and Development, a Committee of Council that exercises oversight over the Tourism function, with creating a non-profit entity to drive joint marketing and development projects with the private sector.

This effort has two primary objectives:
• Enhancing the George trail network for domestic and international tourism.
• Establishing George and the Garden Route as Africa’s “Home of Golf.”

A pivotal meeting held on October 22, 2024, at Fancourt saw stakeholders unite to establish the George Joint Marketing
Association (GJMA), a registered non-profit company. The GJMA serves as the hub for public-private tourism collaborations, pooling resources and expertise to amplify the region’s appeal.

The trail network project is advancing rapidly, with significant progress made in enhancing and promoting the trails. Partnerships have been forged with trail clubs such as Conquer Together, the Hillbillies, and Garden Route Trail Running (GTR), as well as local businesses, event organisers, and safety initiatives like Keep Our Mountain Safe. Meanwhile, the golf initiative is underway, with efforts focused on positioning the Garden Route as the “Home of Golf, Africa.”

Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager for George, Wilderness and Uniondale, expressed her excitement: “This collaboration represents a bold step forward in how we promote George as a destination. With the private sector taking the lead and government providing strategic support, we’re redefining tourism for our region. Through our ‘George, naturally’ brand, we are creating vibrant new content and initiatives that will position George as a must-visit destination on both national and global stages.”

One of the key milestones of this initiative is the transfer and relaunch of the George Trails website, now managed by the trail community. The revamped platform offers engaging, up-to-date content and remains free for residents and visitors.

Plans include introducing revenue streams, such as advertising and memberships, to ensure ongoing maintenance and safety of the trails. Explore the updated website at www.georgetrails.org.za.

George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism invites individuals and organisations to join this transformative project.

Opportunities include partnering on trails maintenance, mapping routes, supporting fundraising efforts, or advertising. Together, let’s position George as a world-class destination for leisure and sports.

For more information, please contact:
• Charl Marais: charl@powervan.co.za or
• Zane Schmahl: zane.schmahl@team.utmb.world
• Joan Shaw: 044 801 9103 | jshaw@george.gov.za